Calculating machine with a device for rounding off an amount and for cancelling decimal positions

ABSTRACT

A calculating machine having a 10-digit keyboard is provided with a register for temporarily storing values and is selectively engageable with the actuating mechanism to receive values therefrom. A function lever is operatively connected to the register through a linkage which laterally displaces the register in response to positioning of the function lever to cancel decimal positions. The frame of the register is also provided with a lever which is engageable with the actuating mechanism for rounding off the decimal value before the cancelled positions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Otto Haberkorn Gerstetten, Germany[21 I Appl. No. 12,203

[22] Filed Feh.19,1970

[45] Patented July 27, 1971 l 73] Assignee waltherllueromlsehinen GmbllGerstetten WuertL, Germany [54] CALCULATING MACHINE WITH A DEVICE FORROUNDING OFF AN AMOUNT AND FOR CANCELLING DECIMAL POSITIONS 11 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl ..235/63 DE, 235/61 DP [51] lnt.CL ..G06e 23/00 [50] Fieldof Search 235/63 DE, 60 MT, 61 DP, 60 TX [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,076,597 2/1963 Gelling 235/61 DP 3,081,938 3/1963Walther et al. 235/61 DP 3,383,036 5/1968 Habel'korn et a1 235/61 DPFOREIGN PATENTS 1,156,255 10/1963 Germany Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal A!larneyEdmund M..laskiewicz ABSTRACT: A calculating machine having a IO-digit keyboardis provided with a register for temporarily storing values and isselectively engageable with the actuating mechanism to receive valuestherefrom. A function lever is operatively connected to the registerthrough a linkage which laterally displaces the register in response topositioning of the function lever to cancel decimal positions. The frameof the register is also provided with a lever which is engageable withthe actuating mechanism for rounding off the decimal value before thecancelled positions.

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CALCULATING MACHINE WITH A DEVICE FOR ROUNDING OFF AN AMOUNT AND FORCANCELLING DECIMAL POSITIONS The present invention relates to acalculating machine hav-' ing a lO-digit keyboard, more particularly, tosuch a calculating machine having a device to round off the amountbehind a decimal point and to cancel decimal positions after the roundedoff amount.

Various kinds of calculating machines have been provided with thedevices for upward and downward rounding off values. Such rounding offdevices have been used together with laterally displaceable counter andstorage units and with decade switching. These calculating machines havegenerally been equipped with the so-called Sundstrand decade switchingwherein an additional decimal position can be added only after anincrease in time in the transfer of such decades and this increase intime occurs at the expense of increasing the time of other switchingoperations in the machine. Such an arrangement introduces extremely highdegrees of sensitivity of switching functions which is a knowncharacteristic of such prior art calculating machines. The state of theart of such devices was such that a blind transfer unit was requiredbeside the lowest decimal position. This, in turn, necessitated the useof additional switching elements with respect to the individual decimalpositions which were to be cancelled. It was readily apparent that suchan arrangement was unsatisfactory.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea novel and improved device for cancelling decimal positionssimultaneously with rounding off amounts in a calculating machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a calculatingmachine having a device which cancels automatically decimal positionswhile simultaneously upwardly or downwardly rounding off values.

The objects of the present invention are obtained in a calculatingmachine having a lO-digit keyboard and including an actuating mechanismfor transferring values wherein this mechanism comprises a number ofdifferential rack members. A register for temporarily storing values ismounted for lateral displacement within the calculator. The register issupported by cam lever means so as to have limited vertical movementinto and out of engagement with the actuating mechanism so that valuescan be stored from the actuating mechanism into the register. Apivotally mounted function lever is operatively connected to theregister through a linkage system to laterally displace the register tocancel a selected number of decimal positions. A lever may be pivotallymounted on the register frame and is operatively engageable with theactuating mechanism to round off the last decimal value before thecancelled decimal position prior to transferring the value to a,

positions and for upwardly and downwardly rounding off values. A decimalpoint lever is also provided to move the decimal-point-type member toposition the decimal point with respect to the cancelled decimalposition.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view through a calculating machineincorporating the present invention and showing only those components ofthe machine which comprise the invention and are necessary forcomprehension of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in enlarged scale of the laterallydisplaceable temporary storage register and the operating mechanismtherefor with these components and the rounding off lever being shown intheir normal positions;

FIG. 2a is a partial perspective view in enlarged scale of FIG. 2showing in detail the gears and zero bar;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the calculator illustrated in FIG. 1showing the temporary storage register and decimal-pointshiftingmechanism in their normal positions; and

FIGS. 47 are partial top plan views showing the actuating mechanism forthe temporary storage register in four different switching positions.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in detail.

The calculating machine shown in FIG. 1 which incorporates the presentinvention is an adding and subtracting machine having a printing unit.The machine includes a button keyboard 1, a laterally displaceablesetpin carriage 2, and a plurality of reciprocating spring-loadedactuating members of the differential rack type. There is also provideda laterally fixed counter 4, a storage unit Sand a temporary storageregister 6 which may also be described as a memory unit. Thesecomponents of the machine as well as the memory unit 6 are driventhrough a cam and linkage system comprising members 7l5 from a mainactuating shaft as known for this type of calculator. It is thereforenot necessary to describe these functional components in further detailfor comprehension of the invention.

The particular structural unit of the above described calculatingmachine which incorporates the present invention is the temporarystorage register 6 which comprises a frame 18 pivotally mounted on ashaft 17 fixed between sidewalls 16 of the calculating machine. Theregister 6 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 2a and 3 and thesidewalls of the machine are shown in FIG. 3.

Another shaft 19 is rotatably supported within the calculating machineand has a pair of control levers 20 fixed at its end with the upperportions of these levers being provided with curved cam slots 21 whichsupport a shaft 22. The shaft 22has a plurality of gears 23 thereon witheach gear being provided with a lateral zero cam 24 (FIG. 2a) facing azero stop bar 25 on register frame 18 and having a number of abutmentstop dogs26. The gears 23 can be coupled temporarily to transfer members43 of the actuating mechanism 3 and/or decade levers 34 in order tointroduce a value into the gears of the register 6. As the controllevers 20 are pivoted by means of link 15 which is pivotally connectedto one of the levers, the cam slots 21 will move shaft 22 together withgears 23 upwardly so that the gears are temporarily coupled with thetransfer members 43. The value introduced into the register 6 by meansof the gears 23 is temporarily retained therein and then withdrawn.

The register 6 is also slidably moveable upon the shaft 17 so as to belaterally displaceable within the calculator. For this purpose, theshaft 22 is provided with a cam follower 28 which, together with otherelements which are to be presently described, displace the register forthe purpose of cancelling decimal positions.

For the upward and downward rounding off operation a trip lever 29 ispivotally mounted on the shaft 19 and is retained by a tension spring 30against a pin 32 on a rocking lever 32 on an end of a known type oflocking shaft 33 for blocking a decade lever 34. Another switching lever35 is mounted on the shaft 19 together with a torsion spring 36 alsomounted on the shaft 19 with the spring retaining the switching lever 35and the trip lever 29 in their operating positions.

The trip lever 29 is provided with a pin 37 which rests on the switchinglever 35 and arrests the upward pivotal movement of this lever. Thelever 35 is provided with a nose projection 38 which is engageable in anupward direction against a feeler lever 39 to temporarily lift thisfeeler lever and pivot the same ina clockwise direction. The lockingshaft 33 is pivoted in a known manner in a counterclockwise directionfor locking decade levers 34 for total and subtotal operations.

The trip lever 29 is provided with a cam projection 40 acted upon by thepin 31 so that the trip lever 29 is pivoted together with the pivotingof the feeler lever 39. A spring 39 urges feeler lever 39 in acounterclockwise direction so that a tab 41 is positioned as shown inFIG. 1. The upward pivoting of feeler lever 39 causes tab 41 to engageteeth 42 of a particular transfer member 43. This sensing function isperformed during the initial phase of the machine operation so that thelever 39 will not actuate a decade lever 34. The torsion spring 36prevents any blocking of these operational components.

The lateral displacement of the temporary storage register 6 with thesimultaneous actuation of the feeler lever 39 can be selected by theoperator. The displacement is achieved by the cam follower 28 whichreceives a pin 46 riveted to an arresting lever 45 pivotally mounted ona bearing pin 48 firmly attached to a base plate 47. A tension spring 49urges the arresting lever 45 in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 2.

A downwardly extending pin 50 is riveted to a rear portion of thearresting lever 45 and is retained in operative relation ship with astop slide having steps 52 and 100. The pin 50 is being shown inengagement with step 52 in FIG. 2. The stop slide 51 is mounted forlongitudinal sliding movement and has at its other end an upstanding lug53 connected by means of a pin 54 to a functional or rounding off lever55. The lever 55 is pivotally mounted on a bearing shaft 56 extendingfrom a sidewall 16 of the calculator as may be seen in FIG. 3. A pin 57also mounted in the sidewall 16 pivotally supports a catch lever 58which is urged downwardly in the direction of the arrow indicated at atension spring 59. The lower edge of the lever 58 is provided with aplurality of notches 60, 61 and 62 which receive a catch pin 63 mountedon the rounding off lever 55 with these notches determining operatingpositions of the lever.

A second stop slide 64 is supported for longitudinal displacement on thebase plate 47 by means of a stationary pin 65 received within alongitudinal slot 66. A tension spring 68 is connected to an angular arm67 extending from slide 64 and urges the slide in the directionindicated by the arrow attached to the spring. A longitudinal surface 69of slide 64 bears against a roller 70 mounted on a bearing pin 71upstanding upon the base plate 47.

The angular arm 67 of the slide is engageable with the lower portion 72of a decimal point lever 73 pivotally mounted on the bearing shaft 56.The upper end of lever 73 is received within a slot formed in a pullmember 74. A pin 75 on the lower end of the decimal point lever 73 isengageable with notches 76 and 77 on a pivotally mounted catch lever 79which is urged downwardly by a spring 78 in the direction of the arrowthereon.

The pull member 74 is guided at its other end by means of a longitudinalslot 84 therein receiving a pin 81 attached to a pivotable switchinglever 82. Lever 82 is provided with a pin 83 received in a cam follower84 mounted on an end of a decimal shaft 85 which is axially moveable inthe frame walls 16 of the calculator. The pull member 74 is alsoprovided with a pin 86 which engages a curved slot 87 in the switchinglever 82 and a tension spring 88 connected to the pull member 84 urgesthe member in a direction indicated by the arrow on the spring.

Also mounted on the bearing pin 71 is an upper lever arm 89 having acurved cam surface 90 which is engageable with the pin 50 on thearresting lever 45. Also mounted on the bearing pin 71 is a lower leverarm 91 provided with a pin 92 which is connected to a rod 93 guided formovement in the direction of the arrow on the rod. The rod 93 ispivotally connected by a rivet connection 94 to a lever 95 which isdriven automatically by the main actuating shaft of the calculatingmachine such as during a subtotal operation of the machine.

The function lever 55 initiates the operation of cancelling decimalpositions in the same manner as the decimal point lever 73 sets thedecimal point. The function lever 55 has three operating positions asfollows:

A first or frontal position where pin 63 is retained in notch 60 asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the cancelling operation does not occur.

A second or central position where the pin 63 is engaged in notch 61 andtwo decimal positions are cancelled. This position is illustrated inFIG. 5.

A third or rear position wherein the function lever pin 63 is engagedin. notch 62 and four positions are cancelled. This position is shown inFIG. 7. When function lever 55 is in its normal forwardposition, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the maximum step 52 of stop slide 51 engages pin50 on arresting lever 45 whose pin 46 positions cam follower 28 and thetemporary storage register 6 in its normal right-hand position. In thisposition, all of the gears 23 are correspondingly positioned withrespect to all of the transfer members 43 and may mesh with the teeth ofthe transfer members 43. The feeler lever 39 faces a shorter decadelever 34 which cannot be engaged by the lug 44.

When the function lever 55 is shifted into its second or centralposition, the stop slide 55 is shifted to the left as may be seen inFIG. 5 such that the arresting lever pin 50 is no longer engageable withthe step 52 but rests upon a step 96 on the second stop slide 64. Thespring 49 pivots arresting lever 45 to the position as shown in FIG. 5so that the pin 46 moves the cam follower 28 and shaft 22 into aposition wherein the register 6 is moved to the left through two decimalpositions.

The decimal-point-type member 97 mounted on the decimal point shaft isnormally set and positioned between the second and third decadepositions as shown in FIG. 3. If the decimal point lever 73 is nowactuated, the pull rod 74 will be shifted to the left whereupon the pin86 in the slot 87 will shift lever 82 in a counterclockwise direction sothat pin 83 engaged in the cam follower 84 will move shaft 85 toward theleft by one decimal position. In this position, the decimalpoint-typemember 97 will be shifted to the next higher decimal position.

At the same time that the decimal point lever 73 was actuated, the stopslide 64 was also shifted to the left because of its engagement with thelower arm 72 of the decimal point lever. As a result, the arrestinglever pin 50 engages abutment step 98 to shift the register 6 to theleft an additional decimal position so that at this point three decimalpositions have been cancelled.

After the decimal point' lever 73 has been shifted back into its normalposition, the decimal-point-type member 97 will also be moved back intoits normal position opposite the second decade member. During thisreturn movement, the stop slide 64 cannot move under the action of itsspring 68 since the pin engages an abutment step 99 to prevent thisreturn movement. The pin 50 will release the stop slide 64 only afterthe register 6 has been returned to the right to its normal startingposition. When this occurs, the slide 64 can then also return under theinfluence of its tension spring 68 as may be seen in FIG. 6.

When the function lever 55 is switched to its third or rear position sothat its pin 63 is engaged in the notch 62, the stop slide 51 is furthershifted to the left so that the arresting lever pin 50'is now positionedin front of abutment step 100. The slide 51 is further provided with arear abutment 101 which is positioned in front of a pin 102 on stopslide 64 to prevent the stop slide from being positioned within therange of arresting lever pin 50. The pin 50 now rests on abutment step100 of slide lever 51 so that the arresting lever 45 can now shift theregister 6 four decimal positions to the left so that four decimalpositions are cancelled. This position of the slides is shown in FIG. 7.

After the third switching function has been completed, the register 6 isautomatically returned to its normal position. This is accomplishedthrough the main drive of the calculator wherein the member 95 pulls therod 93 which in turn pivots the lower lever arm 91 and pin 71 to causethe cam surface on upper lever arm 89 to engage the rear face of thearresting lever and pivot this lever toward the right to return register6 to its normal position.

The downward and upward rounding off operation is simultaneously carriedout by the feeler lever 39 during an additional subtotal operation ofthe calculating machine.

The feeler lever 39 is normally positioned so that it is displaced tothe right by one decimal position from the first gear of the gears 23 ofthe register 6'. If the register 6 is then shifted to the left by twodecimal positions, the first of its gears 23 faces the third transfermember 43 of counter unit 4. The lug 44 of feeler lever 39 will then bepositioned in front of a decade lever 34 for the third decimal positionwhile the lug 41 faces a transfer member of the second decimal position.As a result, there are no gears 23 associated with the transfer members43 of the first and second decade positions.

In this subtotal operation of the calculating machines, the transfermember 43 sense the value in the counter unit 4 in a known manner. Thetrip lever 29 will then urge the feeler lever 39 upwardly against thecorrespondingly positioned transfer member 43. If the transfer member 43was not shifted by more than five units in sensing the value fromcounter 4, the lug 41 will be positioned on a point of a tooth 42 on thetransfer member 43. However, if the transfer member 43 was moved morethan five units, the lug 4] will be positioned between the teeth oftransfer member 43 in the dotted line position 41' as shown in FIG. 2.In this situation, the feeler lever 39 will be pivoted to such an extentthat its bent lug 44 will release a decade lever 34. When the transfermembers 43 are restored, a decade transfer to the third transfer decadeposition of the counter unit 4 will be carried out and the upwardrounding off operation will be completed.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed acalculating machine wherein the rounding off operation occurssimultaneously with the cancelling of excessive decimal positions. Theseresults are achieved by the lateral displacement of a temporary storageregister whose frame is further provided with a feeler lever functioningduring the rounding off operation. The entire arrangement is simple andcompact and operates satisfactorily with a minimum of difiiculty.

It is understood that this invention is susceptible to modification inorder to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within the invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Whatl claim is:

1. In a calculator having a lO-digit keyboard, the combination of anactuating mechanism for transferring values, a register for temporarilystoring values and mounted for lateral displacement, cam lever meanssupporting said register for limited vertical movement into and out ofengagement with said actuating mechanism, function lever meansoperatively connected to said register for laterally displacing theregister to cancel a selected number of decimal positions, and meansmounted on said register and operatively engageable with said actuatingmechanism for rounding off the last decimal value before the cancelleddecimal positions prior to transferring the value to a counter.

2. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said register comprisesa shaft and a plurality of value-receiving gears thereon, said cam levermeans comprising a pair of spaced levers having curved slots thereinsupporting said register shaft.

3. In a calculator as claimed in claim 2 and comprising a lateral zerocam for each gear, and a zero stop bar on said register and having stopabutment dogs operatively engageable by said zero cams.

4. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said calculator has acounter and a decade lever for each decimal position, said registercomprising a frame, said rounding off means comprising a leverpivotallymounted on one side of said register frame, a first tab on one end ofsaid lever and a second tab on the other end thereof, said first tabbeing temporarily engageable with said actuating mechanism while thesecond tab simultaneously releases a decade lever so that a value may betransferred to the counter upon restoring of the actuating mechanism.

5. In a calculator as claimed in claim 4 and comprising a second shafthaving a trip lever with a cam projection and a switch lever with a noseprojection pivotally mounted thereon, torsion spring means on'saidsecond shaft and acting against said tri and switch levers, a blockingshaft lockingly engageable wit the decade levers and having a rockinglever thereon with a pin, spring means urging the cam projection of saidtrip lever against said rocking lever pin, said switch lever noseprojection being retained in position against said rounding off lever.

6. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 and comprising means forretaining said function lever in a selected one of three operatingpositions, a first stop slide having two abutment stepsoperatively'connected to said function lever and slidable'longitudinallywithin the calculator, an arresting lever having a pin engageable withthe abutment steps of said first stop slide, and means operativelyconnecting said arresting lever and said register for laterallydisplacing the register in response to actuation of said function levertogether with the first stop slide and arresting lever.

7. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a pivotallymounted decimal point lever, means for retaining said decimal pointlever in a selected one of two operating positions, and a second stopslide having one end operatively connected to said decimal point leverand slidable longitudinally within the calculator.

8. In a calculator as claimed in claim 6 and comprising a pivotallymounted decimal point lever, means for retaining said decimal pointlever in a selected one of two operating positions, a second stop slidehaving one end operatively connected to said decimal point lever andslidable longitudinally within the calculator, said second stop slidehaving two steps at the other end thereof engageable with the pin onsaid anesting lever, and means responsive to actuation of said decimalpoint lever for positioning a decimal point printer unit with respect tothe cancelled decimal positions.

9. In a calculator as claimed in claim 7 and comprising roller meansengaging a longitudinal edge of said second stop slide, and meansengageable with said second stop slide for supporting the same in thelongitudinal direction of displacement.

10. In a calculator as claimed in claim 6 and comprising a double leverhaving upper and lower arms pivotally mounted for movement about thesame axis, operating linkage pivotally connected to said lower leverarm, said upper arm having a cam surface engageable with the pin on saidarresting lever, said cam surface acting against said arresting leverpin in response to the operating linkage actuating said double lever toreturn the register to its normal position.

11. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 and comprising an axiallymoveable shaft having a decimal-point-type member thereon, and linkagemeans operatively connected to said type member shaft and responsive tothe lateral displacement of said register through two decimal positionsfor moving said decimal-point-type member one decimal position.

1. In a calculator having a 10-digit keyboard, the combination of anactuating mechanism for transferring values, a register for temporarilystoring values and mounted for lateral displacement, cam lever meanssupporting said register for limited vertical movement into and out ofengagement with said actuating mechanism, function lever meansoperatively connected to said register for laterally displacing theregister to cancel a selected number of decimal positions, and meansmounted on said register and operatively engageable with said actuatingmechanism for rounding off the last decimal value before the cancelleddecimal positions prior to transferring the value to a counter.
 2. In acalculator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said register comprises a shaftand a plurality of value-receiving gears thereon, said cam lever meanscomprising a pair of spaced levers having curved slots thereinsupporting said register shaft.
 3. In a calculator as claimed in claim 2and comprising a lateral zero cam for each gear, and a zero stop bar onsaid register and having stop abutment dogs operatively engageable bysaid zero cams.
 4. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidcalculator has a counter and a decade lever for each decimal position,said register comprising a frame, said rounding off means comprising alever pivotally mounted on one side of said register frame, a first tabon one end of said lever and a second tab on the other end thereof, saidfirst tab being temporarily engageable with said actuating mechanismwhile the second tab simultaneously releases a decade lever so that avalue may be transferred to the counter upon restoring of the actuatingmechanism.
 5. In a calculator as claimed in claim 4 and comprising asecond shaft having a trip lever with a cam projection and a switchlever with a nose projection pivotally mounted thereon, torsion springmeans on said second shaft and acting against said trip and switchlevers, a blocking shaft lockingly engageable with the decade levers andhaving a rocking lever thereon with a pin, spring means urging the camprojection of said trip lever against said rocking lever pin, saidswitch lever nose projection being retained in position against saidrounding off lever.
 6. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 andcomprising means for retaining said function lever in a selected one ofthree operating positions, a first stop slide having two abutment stepsoperatively connected to said function lever and slidable longitudinallywithin the calculator, an arresting lever having a pin engageable withthe abutment steps of said first stop slide, and means operativelyconnecting said arresting lever and said register for laterallydisplacing the register in response to actuation of said function levertogether with the first stop slide and arresting lever.
 7. In acalculator as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a pivotally mounteddecimal point lever, means for retaining said decimal point lever in aselected one of two operating positions, and a second stop slide havingone end operatively connected to said decimal point lever and slidablelongitudinally within the calculator.
 8. In a calculator as claimed inclaim 6 and comprising a pivotally mounted decimal point lever, meansfor retaining said decimal point lever in a selected one of twooperating positions, a second stop slide having one end operativelyconnected to said decimal point lever and slidable longitudinally withinthe calculator, said second stop slide having two steps at the other endthereof engageable with the pin on said arresting lever, and meansresponsive to actuation of said decimal point lever for positioning adecimal point printer unit with respect to the cancelled decimalpositions.
 9. In a calculator as claimed in claim 7 and comprisingroller means engaging a longitudinal edge of said second stop slide, andmeans engageable with said second stop slide fOr supporting the same inthe longitudinal direction of displacement.
 10. In a calculator asclaimed in claim 6 and comprising a double lever having upper and lowerarms pivotally mounted for movement about the same axis, operatinglinkage pivotally connected to said lower lever arm, said upper armhaving a cam surface engageable with the pin on said arresting lever,said cam surface acting against said arresting lever pin in response tothe operating linkage actuating said double lever to return the registerto its normal position.
 11. In a calculator as claimed in claim 1 andcomprising an axially moveable shaft having a decimal-point-type memberthereon, and linkage means operatively connected to said type membershaft and responsive to the lateral displacement of said registerthrough two decimal positions for moving said decimal-point-type memberone decimal position.